Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-02-03

pulling the guns after them.
''Pick up the lieutenant, there, some of you
who can do a little lifting, said Kent, as they
came to where the boy artillerist lay dead.
"This prod in my shoulder has spoilt my lift
ing for some time. Lay him on the gun and
we'll take him bacl, with lis. He deserves it,
fer he was game clear through Harry,
that fellow that gave you that beauty
mark cn the temple with his saber got his dis
charge from the Confederate Grmy just after
wards on the point of Abes bayonetn
as that so! Did Abe get struck at Gll!S
"Only a whack over the nose with the butt
of gun, which will doubtless improve his
looks Any change would
"Guess we can go back now with some
peace and comfort, said Abe. coming up and
abiding to the cessation Of the firing in front.
That last round took al. tho fight out of them
hell hounds across the G~ld.n
"Some Of you bad letter 60 over to the
camp there ard get our axes. Well have to
cut a road through the cedars if we take these
guns off, y said Harry, tying handkerchief
around the gaping saber wound in his tenn
pie. The rest OF you ,taround to the right
and keep sharp lookout for the flank
So they worked their way back and a little
after noon came to tho open fields by the
pike.
As the wagon rolled slowly down tho pike
toward Nashville Rachel, in spite of her
anxiety, fell asleep. Some hours later sh,
als awakened by tie driver shaking her
rudely.
"Wake up" he shouted @ef ye value yer
hep
where are weg she asked, rubbing her
yes.
~At Stewards creek answered the driver,
"an' ali o. Wheelcr's cavalry are out thar in
them woods
She looked out. She could see some miles
ahead Of her. and as far as she could see the
road was filled with wagons moving toward
Nashville. A sharp squirt of firing ON the
left attracted her attention, and she saw
long wave of horsemen ride out of the woods
and charge the wagon guards, who made
sharp resistance, but at length fed before
overwhelming numbers. The transfers, at
the first sight of the formidable line, began
cutting their wheel mules loose and escaping
upon them, Raclel's teainstef followed their
example.
"The off mules unhitcht; jump on him an
skip, he shouted to her as he vanished up the
pike.
The Confederates were shooting down the
mules and such teamsters as remained. Some
dismounted, and with the axes each wagon
carried, chopped the spubes until the wagon
fell. while others ran along and started fires
in each. In little while five hundred wag-
ons loaded with rations, clothing, ammuni-
ton and stores were blazing furiously. Their
work done, the cavalry rode off toward
Nashville in search Of other trains
Rachel loaped from the wagon before the
Confelerates approached and took refuge be-
hind large tree, whence she saw her wagon
share the fate of the rest When the cavalry
disappeared she came out again into the road
and walked slowly UP it, debating what she
could do. She was rejoiced to meet her
tcamster returning. He had viewed the Oc-
currenee from prudent distance, and being
kindly natured, had decided to return to her
help as soon as il could be done without risk.
He told her that there was wagon up the
pike little ways with woman in it, to
which he would conduct her, and they would
go back TO the army in front of Murfrees-
boro
1T seems case of 'twixt the devil and the
deep sea, he said despeiringIy. "At any rate
we can't stay out here, and my experience is
that it is always safest where there is the big
gest crowd"
They found The wagon with the woman in
It. Its driver had bolted irrevocably, so
Rachel's friend assumed the reins. 1t was
slow work making their way back through
the confused mass, but Rachel was lucky
enough to sleep through most of it. When
she awoke the next morning the wagon was
still on the pike, but in the centre of the
army, which flied ell the open space round
about
Everywhere were evidences of the terrible
work of the day before, and of preparations
for renewing it. The soldiers, utterly ex-
hausted by the previous days frightful strain,
lay around on the naked ground sleeping or
in a half waking torpor.
An officer rode up to the wagon. There
seems to be some flour on this wagon, said
the voice Of Dr. Denslow. Well, that may
stay tho boys stomachs until we can get some
thing better. Go on little ways, driver
60 Doctor Denslow," called out Rachel, as
the wagon stopped again, what is the
news =
" You here again n said the doctor, recog-
nizing the voice; +" WE'LL that is good news.
When l heard about Wheeler's raid on our
trains was terribly alarmed as to your fate.
This relieves me much"
" But how about the army &
We'll, it seems TO have been a case Of
hammer and anvil yesterday, in which both
suffered pretty badly, but the hammer got
much the worst of it. We are in good shape
now to give them some more, if they want it,
which SO far they have not indicated very
strongly. Here, Sergt. Glen, is couple
of barrels of flour, which you can take to
issue out TO your regiment"
Had not the name been called Rachel could
never have recognized her former elegant
lover in the stalwart man with tattered uni
form, swollen face, and head wrapped III a
bloody bandage, who came to the wagon with
a squad to receive the -four
A tuInult of emotions swept over her, but
superior TO them oil was tile feminine feeling
that she could not endure TO have Harry see
her in her present unprepossessing plight.
Don't mention my name before those
men, she said to DIR. Denslow, when he came
near again.
Very good he answered Sit still in
the wagon and nobody will see you. will
have the wagon drive over to the hospital
presently, with the remainder of the -four,
and you can go along.
All the old love seemed 70 have been out at
compound interest, from the increment that
came back 70 her at the sound of Harry
Glen's voice, now so much deeper, fuller and
more masterful than in tho fastidious days Of
yore. She lifted the smallest corner Of the
wagon cover and looked out The barrel
heads had been beaten in with stones, and a
large cupful OF -four issued to each Of the
hungry men They had mixed it up into
dough with water from the ditch, and were
baking it before the fire on large fiat stones
which abounded in the vicinity.
"rl mix up enough for oil three Of US on
this board, she heard Harry say to Abe and
Kent. with your game arm, Kent, and
A es battered eyes your cooking skills about
gone You ought to both Of you 20 90 the
hospital You can't do any good, and why
expose yourself for nothingl I've a mind to
use my authority as temporary commander
Of the regiment and send you to the hospital
under guard
you try it il you dare, after my saving
your life yesterday said Abe. Il can see
well enough yet to shoot toward the Con-
federatcs, and that's all that's necessary
Il enlisted for the war;" said Kent, @and
I'm going 10 stay till peace IS declared. I
went into this fight to see it through, and I'm
goiSg to stay till we whip them if there's a
piece Of me left that can wiggle. Bragg's got
to acknowledge that I'm the best man before
III ever let up on him.
Rachel longed TO leap cut Of the wagon,
ard do tbs bread making FOR these clumsy